Recommended reading for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Because I keep a reminder of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy constantly posted in the side bar of this blog; because I have written two poems as a tribute to Dr. King that children, college students, and speakers recite every year on MLK Day and again in April; and because I have a page at my first website dedicated to him and his sacrifice, I hadn't planned to post anything this Martin Luther King Day. However, I have been sharing an article on Facebook by HamdenRice at the Daily Kos that I think is one of the best pieces I've ever read about Dr. Martin King Jr., and his legacy.

HamdenRice's article is entitled, "Most of you have no idea what Martin Luther King actually did." Yes, that's a confrontational, but it's also right.

No matter what your ethnic background, you should read that article. It will free you from seeing Dr. King through the "Care Bears" lens our culture's crafted of him, disabuse you of thinking "all King did was march," and force you to consider the kind of world African-Americans faced daily before Dr. King got to work. The article will also help some people understand why African-Americans are so protective and possessive of King's legacy. And that's all I'll say because I don't want to give anything else away about the piece. Just please read it!

On another note regarding general ignorance about Martin Luther King Jr., CNN's has an article up entitled "The greatest MLK speeches you never heard." If the only thing you know of MLK is the "I Have A Dream," speech, then read the CNN article, too, and if that is the case then you definitely need to read the article at Daily Kos.

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

I hope we all use it as a day of service and reflection.